Belmont, NC – In a push for the postseason, the North Greenville University baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Belmont Abbey, winning game on 3-2 and dropping the second game 5-0 on the road.

In game one, Belmont jumped out to an early lead with a run in the second inning of play to go ahead 1-0 before the Crusaders’ offense got started.

Wheeler Smith began the third inning with a walk which was quickly followed by a single from Adam Taylor. Shortstop Taylor Hollifield laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with just one out on the scoreboard.

A single by Allen Staton cleared the bases to go ahead by two runs. After a double by Andrew Lawrence again put both runners in scoring position, Frank Polino drove in the run from third with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give North Greenville the 3-1 lead.

Belmont scored just one more run throughout the final six innings of play as Ryan Woodring and Staton combined to shut down the Abbey offense.

Woodring was masterful on the mound, pitching 7 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, striking out a season-high nine batters to earn his third win of the season. Staton recorded his fifth save of 2013 after pitching a perfect 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts in relief.

At the plate, Taylor led the team with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring a run and recording a walk, while Staton was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Lawrence finished the game 1-for-4 with a double, while Tyler Mitchell and Jessep Polk each recorded a hit in the game.

Game two was all Belmont as the Crusaders scored five runs on nine hits, while shutting out the North Greenville offense.

Senior Ian Haley suffered the loss, pitching his third straight complete game, allowing five runs (three runs) on nine hits, striking out just one in the game.

Taylor was again the offensive leader with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double, while Polk was 2-for-3 in the game.

Staton, Hollifield, Polino, Mitchell and Josh Sealey each recorded a hit of their own in game two as the Crusaders pounded out 10 hits but were unable to bring any runs across the plate.

North Greenville (14-23, 5-12 in Conference Carolinas) will conclude the series with Belmont Abbey on Monday, April 8 in Belmont at 3:30 p.m.